BOGUE CHITTO – Jimmie Butler is the new head boys basketballcoach at Bogue Chitto. He replaces Jeremy Harrell whose contractwas not renewed after two years at the helm.

Butler, 41, was an assistant girls basketball coach at Brookhaven,working with Fred Craft for three years. He also assisted with theBHS track team as the Lady Panthers won the district title andfinished third in the State 5A meet at Pearl this year. He coachedGloria Weathersby who won the discus state title.

Butler is single, but he has four children: three boys and onegirl.

Butler is a native of McComb. He graduated from McComb in 1988 andplayed basketball at Mary Holmes Junior College. He obtained hiscollege degree in mass communications and television productionfrom Jackson State University.

He worked in the mental health field for nine years. He beganteaching English at South Pike and worked with boys basketballcoach Joe Taylor.

After one year in Magnolia, Butler moved to McComb as an assistantwith girls basketball coach Angela Johnson for four years. He alsocoached McComb track and the Lady Tigers won the state championshiptwo straight years.

“It has been a longtime coming,” said Butler, referring to the headjob. “I am grateful for the opportunity.”

He had the Bogue Chitto squad at Co-Lin’s team camp last week. “Iinherited a group of young kids who want to play basketball. Weonly have one senior on the team.”

Butler said, “I want to thank the Bogue Chitto community for theirwarm, Christian welcome.” He will teach physical education and alsocoach the junior high basketball team.

“Coach Butler comes to us with great experience,” said Bogue Chittoprincipal Dr. Stacy Adcock. “We are excited to get him on board. Welook forward to seeing him work with the players andstudents.”

Adcock said the basketball program needed consistency. The boysbasketball job has resembled a revolving door during the past 10years as seven different coaches have been at the helm. “It(Inconsistency) has caused our boys program to suffer over theyears.”

Former Brookhaven and Wilkinson County coach Ronald Hines had beenhired last month as BC’s boys basketball coach. However, Hinesopted for an assistant coaching position on Luther Riley’s staff atAlcorn State University.

Adcock said he was impressed by Butler’s enthusiasm for his newjob.

“Coach Butler hit the ground running,” said Adcock. “He took theboys to the Co-Lin camp. They were excited about their new coach.We have had some talented players here and our school has a greattradition in athletics.”

The Bogue Chitto softball teams have won back-to-back fastpitchstate championships and a slowpitch title in the last 18 months.BC’s baseball team reached the South state 1A finals and the girlsbasketball team advanced to the state tournament in Jackson. BC’sfootball team has consistently advanced to the state playoffs andthe powerlifting team is among the state title contenders on anannual basis.

The Bobcats tip off their basketball season in the first week ofNovember. They will participate in a 1-day camp at North Pike thisweek.